Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A survey of soils of Ulakwo, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, was conducted to characterize and evaluate the suitability of the soils for sustainable production of oil palm. The area was reconnaissansized and four mapping units delineated. A representative profile pit was dug in each mapping unit and described according to international procedures and standard methods. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for their physical and chemical properties and the land was assessed for oil palm cultivation. Results revealed well drained and deep soils. Texture showed sandy loam overlying sandy clay loam. Soils were very strongly - strongly acidic (4.5-5.5) with very low (subsurface) to moderate (surface) organic carbon (0.12 – 1.24 %). Available phosphorous was moderate (7.7 - 26.3 mgkg-1). There were generally low exchangeable bases and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC). The non- parametric approach of suitability evaluation by simple limitation method indicated that the soils currently under refuse dumps, oil palm cultivation and one year fallow in the study area were moderately suitable (S2) for oil palm production while soils under continuous cassava cultivation were evaluated marginally suitable (S3) for oil palm cultivation on fertility grounds of low organic carbon content. Since the soils were low in fertility and highly acidic, the judicious use of lime and supplemented with organic manure and NPK fertilizers are recommended.
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AMAESHI, P (2022). Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Apr 24, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-7-2
PATRICK, AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Mar. 2022, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
PATRICK, AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Mar. 2022. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
PATRICK, AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2022). Accessed 24 Apr. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-7-2